Budget fails our schools

Kylie Kitchen

High priority education projects have been overlooked in the Victorian budget, to the detriment of schooling in the Macedon Ranges. 

The budget, released on Tuesday night, has failed to fund the K-12 Kyneton Education Plan, failed to commit to the Federal Government's National Plan for School Improvement (Gonski reform), and failed to reinstate TAFE funding. 

Australian Education Union Victorian Branch president, Meredith Peace, said this government has cut public education funding in real terms by at least $155 million over the next 12 months.

"The AEU has repeatedly called on the State Government to invest in public education, which is critical to the state's economic and social future," Ms Peace said.

Local Labor members of parliament have criticised the budget and its impacts on education in the Macedon Ranges. 

Labor State MP for Ballarat East, Geoff Howard said the budget is a huge letdown for the region.

"I am very disappointed that the K-12 Kyneton Education Plan did not receive any funding. For the third year in a row no school in the entire Ballarat East electorate has been listed to receive any major upgrade funding," he said.

"Our education system deserves better."

Mr Howard raised concern about the overall $69 million cut to education which is declared as 'savings' or 'reprioritisation and adjustments'.

Federal Labor Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, said the state's reduction in education spending proves the urgent need to reform school funding.

That is the aim under the National Plan for School Improvement. It is the Federal Government's response to the Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling.

The plan is a partnership project in which the Federal Government is awaiting state governments across the country to sign up to. So far only NSW has signed up. 

This budget was Victoria's opportunity to be part of the Gonski plan, with the agreement time closing on June 30.

Under the plan, schools across the country (in states that are signed up) would benefit from an extra $14.5 billion in public investment over the next six years along with better funding indexation. The NPSI would provide $9,271 per primary school student and $12,193 for high school students.

"If Premier Napthine will only act and sign up to our plan for better schools then there will be $4 billion more flowing to Victoria schools over the next six years, and the targeted funding available under national partnerships will be permanently locked in," Mr Mitchell said.

"But if we don't change the current school funding system, then our schools will miss out on $1.2 billion over the coming years due to expiring national partnerships and lower indexation rates."

Federal Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters said the state's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"(On Wednesday), I was in Kyneton meeting with school principals, teachers and students about the urgent needs of their schools. To be frank, their urgent needs list is just too long."

"This is on top of the $555 million the State Government has already ripped from our schools since coming to power."

Ms Chesters said if Mr Napthine refuses to sign up to the Labor Government's National Plan School Improvement, Victorian schools and students will be hit twice as hard.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in."

State Liberal Member for the Northern Victoria, Donna Petrovich is yet to comment on the issues with education funding, but said the government is committed to improving Victorian lifestyle by investing in education, infrastructure, health, transport, environment and the economy.

"The Victorian Coalition Government's 2013-14 Victorian State Budget invests in major infrastructure and high-quality services for all Victorians, while ensuring Victoria's finances remain the strongest in the nation," Ms Petrovich said.